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No iOS 5 for iPhone 3GS?

chrmjenkins said:
Not a relevant argument to a third gen iPod touch user.
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because your ipod is going to stop working when iOS 5 is released?

I don't know if I believe this rumor, the 3GS still has essentially the same hardware as the iPhone 4 so I see no reason it won't run the latest OS, maybe have some features stripped, but as long as it's not as bad as iOS 4 on the 3G was I think Apple is making a mistake if they don't release it.
 
One thing Apple has over Android is consistency of software updates. IMO Apple needs to set out a policy on retiring iOS hardware and then stick to it.

iPhone was retired at iOS 4.0, which was sensible, but iPhone 3G got strung along until 4.2.1, and not for the better in practical terms. If the 3GS gets retired at iOS 5, then there's no consistency at all.

That's not good for:
- consumers, because it introduces uncertainty about the perceived life of their product into their purchasing decision.
- developers, because they can't plan their projects according to what hardware to support.
- Apple, even, because they're reliant on the above groups for their income.
 
miles01110 said:
If you are still on a 3GS as a developer perhaps you need to rethink your business model.
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Any decent developer will actually keep a variety of devices around for testing. I still have a 3G for testing purposes, in fact.

(btw: anyone noticed that iOS 4.2.1 on the iPhone 3G gets slower and slower over time? After 6 months or so it becomes really sluggish and laggy, and apps start randomly crashing. Then, factory restore (without restoring from backup), and its all nice and snappy again!)
 
Thataboy said:
GOOD.

Apple is already slow with major phone and iOS updates (compared to the quickly evolving Android).
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I know we're arguing the same point, but you're flat out wrong here.

Android 1.0 was released september 2008
Android 2.0 was released october 2009
Android 3.0 was released february 2011


where as iOS:

1.0 June 2007
2.0 July 2008
3.0 June 2009
4.0 June 2010

PLUS Android was only playing catchup on most updates. It's a lot easier to copy something than invent something.
 
i'm sure this is just due to the complaints from 4.0 on the 3G. Nip it in the bud and just don't let people update.
 
Macopotamus said:
iOS 4+ runs terrible on iPhone 3G and 3GS, this seems appropriate
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Not true. It may be a bit sluggish, and buggy, on the 3G, but its absolutely fine on the 3GS. In fact the 3GS CPU is only marginally slower than the iPhone 4's A4 - though it does have half the RAM.
 
Wirelessly posted (Iphone: Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_3_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8G4 Safari/6533.18.5)

chrmjenkins said:
yetanotherdave said:
Right, the 3G got iOS 4, and people complained non stop about performance. Looks like they are trying to avoid a repeat of this.

We're not used to it in the fairly mature hardware world of laptops and desktops, where gains is software are significant, but hardware doesn't change too much. But at the moment, mobile hardware capabilities and development is outpacing software development. We can't expect the same amount of OS backward compatibility on mobile devices.
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But performance won't be an issue. The cores are very similar in performance. One is a 600 MHZ Cortex A8 ARM core and the other is ~800 MHZ Cortex A8 ARM core.

fabian9 said:
Not being able to install the later an greatest version of an operating system does not make a product obsolete...

It still does everything and more than it did when it was purchased, so there really is no need to complain.
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In this case, it does. The operating system is the product. Sure the hardware is nice, but it's just a conduit for the real product, iOS. It's what gets people to buy apps and make Apple revenue after the device is sold.
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How did you buy the OS? In this case, you'd have bought a 3GS with some version of iOS 3 on it. Later you got to upgrade to 4 for free. When iOS 5 rolls out, your phone will still run what you bought. You didn't buy permanent privilege to iOS, you bought the hardware if an iPhone 3GS.

However, even when you buy an OS, you still are just getting that version. Apple is still selling snow leopard now, when lion comes out, unless you bought SL within the last month, you'll have to pay to buy the next os. It's not an all you can eat buffet.
 
chrmjenkins said:
The iPad arguably has a higher need for RAM due to its increased pixel count compared to the 3GS (over 4x) and its apps with more enhanced GUIs. Apple also did not make a big deal about it not having some features like they did with the 3GS. Finally, the iPad also got some exclusive productivity apps like pages etc. The point was that it did fine with those demands and 256 MB of memory, so it doesn't logically follow that they're going to add something in iOS5 that will kill the 3GS.

Similarly, this would also mean the iPad 1 shouldn't get iOS 5 given they have the same amount of RAM. There would be riots about that.
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If that happens, I'd be rioting too. :p

I really don't know about it mate. Lets just hold down.

If there's really a power punch or some extra hardware required for iOS 5.0, I think my 3GS can take it but if its not, then I'd expect Apple to think about it once more.

I cannot demand as I have been a happy customer for 2 years. But lets just hold on. :)
 
Bigdaddyguido said:
I love how people still claim this is about making money. We've already seen why iPhone 4.0 wasn't for the original iPhone or really even the 3G, the OS is too complex for the hardware. The iPhone 4 has twice as much ram as the 3GS and a significantly faster processor, and the a5 will be even more ridiculous.
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Incorrect. The A4 is not significantly faster than the 3GS's processor when you consider 3G to 3GS jump. It's between 25% and 33%. By comparison, 3GS to 3G was over 100%. (50% more clock speed 50% faster clock per clock). A4 from 3GS speed is clock speed only. The processor architectures are the same.

xxBURT0Nxx said:
because your ipod is going to stop working when iOS 5 is released?

I don't know if I believe this rumor, the 3GS still has essentially the same hardware as the iPhone 4 so I see no reason it won't run the latest OS, maybe have some features stripped, but as long as it's not as bad as iOS 4 on the 3G was I think Apple is making a mistake if they don't release it.
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As I've said before, the device is the software. Apple has openly stated that they make their own hardware simply to have more control over their software. The selling point of the iPhone is iOS and the app store.

Noodlefarmer said:
Silly me. I thought this article was about the 3GS.
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So you're positing that the third gen ipod touch, which has the exact same application SoC as the 3GS, will get the upgrade and the 3GS won't? How mad are you trying to make apple users?

Bigdaddyguido said:
How did you buy the OS? In this case, you'd have bought a 3GS with some version of iOS 3 on it. Later you got to upgrade to 4 for free. When iOS 5 rolls out, your phone will still run what you bought. You didn't buy permanent privilege to iOS, you bought the hardware if an iPhone 3GS.

However, even when you buy an OS, you still are just getting that version. Apple is still selling snow leopard now, when lion comes out, unless you bought SL within the last month, you'll have to pay to buy the next os. It's not an all you can eat buffet.
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The problem is withholding a free software update when the requirements do not appear to require it. It's completely possible a new user in a 2 year contract could purchase a phone only to find out 2 months later he won't get a software update. Similarly, people with the iphone 3G enjoyed two iOS updates. It's not unreasonable to expect the same for the 3GS. No one is arguing about iOS 6 or beyond here.
 
Apple and AT&T are still selling brand new 3Gs iPhones currently. So buyer beware.

My two year old 3Gs with iOS 4.2.1 still works just fine. Hadn't planned on a new one until it works on next gen networks. I'd really like to see LTE in the next iPhone. Sounds like it will probably be another generation though.
 
Total Rubbish. One of Apple's leading advantages is their legacy HW support in OS upgrades.

We understand, the 3GS may not be able to provide the fluid iOS 5 experience (new expose like views etc) the 4 and 5/4s will...that doesnt mean it should be left in the dark wholeheartedly.
 
Ah, this is almost ironic with a twist of Karma.

I remember when I had an iPhone 3G, and I was commenting in threads regarding the lack of Multi-Tasking and Home Screen wallpapers for the iPhone 3G.

I was told, "Shut up and upgrade already" or "You can't expect Apple to keep supporting old hardware". The 3GS owners, their device the best iPhone that Apple made, were borderline smug and intolerable.

And now here we are ... it's 3GS owners turn to complain. People saying that the iPhone 3GS is still sold and should be supported need to remember that the 3G was still sold when iOS4 came out and rendered it almost unusable. Have you ever thought that Apple have maybe learned a lesson from the 3G, that if you can't run the latest software well at all, then omit the device completely. The iPhone 3G should never have gotten iOS4, and now it looks like the iPhone 3GS won't get iOS5 which, could actually, be a God send for that device and it's users.

And here come the 3GS users and their mark down votes ... I love this new system, it shows how petty the people who frequent this forum actually are.

And in true Weegie style, as a comeback to the smugness of 3GS owners last year ... "GIRFUY".
 
I'm not shocked, the 3GS is pretty slow with iOS4 anyway. I'd rather not have it than have issues like the 3G iPhone when iOS4 first came out.

I'm just glad I sold my 3GS on time and I'm waiting for the 4S/4GS/5 to come out..
 
So, last OSes :

iPhone - 3.x
iPhone 3G - 4.x
iPhone 3GS - should be 5.x

Yet, here we are and iPhone 3GS is not getting 5.x ? Seeing how the iPhone 3GS and the iPad 1 are hardware equivalents, can we also say the iPad 1 is not getting iOS 5.x ?

Alvi said:
I'm not shocked, the 3GS is pretty slow with iOS4 anyway.
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Uh ? No it's not. It even scores better FPS in games than the iPhone 4 thanks to its lower screen resolution.

WeegieMac said:
Ah, this is almost ironic with a twist of Karma.

I remember when I had an iPhone 3G, and I was commenting in threads regarding the lack of Multi-Tasking and Home Screen wallpapers for the iPhone 3G.

I was told, "Shut up and upgrade already" or "You can't expect Apple to keep supporting old hardware". The 3GS owners, their device the best iPhone that Apple made, were borderline smug and intolerable.
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I was with you all the way, pointing out that the JB community made wallpapers and multi-tasking work on the 3G, there was no reason Apple can't do it.
 
JASApplications said:
Agreed! The 3Gs is still an awesome phone. It will last me at least another year. I don't see how people can spend hundreds of £ on a new iPhone every year just because it has a few more features!
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Not trying to be rude, but you are 16 and from your currency, somewhere in Europe (not sure of how much you are taxed out of your pay, tv tax, etc).

When you get a decent job, line up you priorities, you'll be suprised on how much you spend on the things you want.:eek:
 
KnightWRX said:
Uh ? No it's not. It even scores better FPS in games than the iPhone 4 thanks to its lower screen resolution.
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Agreed. I think some people haven't really seen iOS 4 on a 3GS, or have really skewed perceptions.

Needless to say, though, I'm infuriated at Apple because of this completely unsubstantiated rumour from Russia. It has ruined my day!
 
skellener said:
Apple and AT&T are still selling brand new 3Gs iPhones currently. So buyer beware.

My two year old 3Gs with iOS 4.2.1 still works just fine. Hadn't planned on a new one until it works on next gen networks. I'd really like to see LTE in the next iPhone. Sounds like it will probably be another generation though.
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Precisely. Yours is the case we are arguing. Don't sell a device if you expect to stop supporting updates in only a few months. They no longer sell the iPad 1 or the 3rd gen touch, and it's very likely the former of those will still see the update.
 
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